*Information for a roundtrip to Turkey from a departure city in the United States*
Los Angles (LAX) - Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul)
Turkish Airlines
$1,495
19 hours 35 minutes
6,862 miles
New York City (JFK) - Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul)
Turkish Airlines
$1,844
9 hours 40 minutes
5026 miles
Chicago (O’Hare) - Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul)
Turkish Airlines
$1,881
10 hours 45 minutes
5526 miles
Climate/Weather of Turkey Turkey’s climate is different throughout the seasons. It is best to go in the spring because the weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. April can be quite rainy compared to the other months of summer. Although it has the best weather, this time of the year prices are at their highest and many hotels are fully booked. The second best time to visit turkey is in autumn. The days are shorter and rain can begin in October. Many of the boutique hotels are heavily booked at their highest prices. The third time that would be best to visit would be summer. It is quite hot and usually rainless. Seaside resorts are usually crowded and prices are at their peak. There are smaller crowds and shorter lines for admission to sights. Winter is the worst time to visit out of all the seasons. It can be cold and rainy, but once in a while there are sunny days. There are lower prices and fewer tourists.
Foods In Turkey
In Turkey, people eat a variety of different foods. For breakfast they tend to eat a western style foods. Also with breakfast, people like to drink hot tea, or as an alternative, they also drink warm/hot milk sweetened with honey, One of the more favored food for breakfast is the Rustic Style Bread. Things this bread is made of include: flour, and warm water for the sourdough starter, and for the dough, people tend dto add sugar, warm water, yeast, flour and salt. The bread is served with a variety of different things depending on what you want and what is available. If you ever get tired of the same thing for breakfast, go down to a pastry shop and see if you can find something there. Turkey is filled with little shops.
Rustic Turkish Bread
There are also a variety of different things people eat for lunch and dinner. Most people like to eat around the middle of the day and eat the same types of food for lunch and dinner just like in the United States.Some people in turkey eat a large meal at lunch and a smaller meal at dinner, but then there are others who eat a smaller meal at lunch and save the “big meal” for dinner. People in turkey love salads. They are served with almost every dish in a restaurant. There are many dips and appetizers that are also served in turkey just like in America. If you go to the coast of turkey, you will tend to eat more seafood because it is very plentiful and is a favorite amongst the people on the coasts. All over turkey one of the favorite dishes for lunch or dinner is the kebab. People add many different things their kebabs like, chicken, lamb, and beef and many fruits or vegetables.
Chicken Kebab
Ingredients for Chicken Kebab include: Cumin, plain yogurt, red pepper powder, cayenne pepper, garlic clove with smashed salt, pomegranate paste, olive oil, boneless chicken breast, 2 large tomatoes, cubanelle peppers
Lodging
Hotel Amira Istanbul: Telephone number: 1-866-599-6674
In Sultanahmet neighborhood, luxury hotel near Hippodrome
In historical district.
This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Istanbul, walking distance from Little Hagia Sophia Bath, Hippodrome, and Blue Mosque. Also nearby are Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia.
2 restaurants, a bar/lounge
*Children and extra beds
Free! All children under 6 years stay free of charge when using existing beds.
Free! All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots.
All older children or adults are charged EUR 40 per night per person for extra beds.
Maximum capacity of extra beds/babycots in a room is 1.
Accepted credit cards
American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.
$105 for one night
Fraser Place Hotel/ Apartments:
Price: $158 dollars per room for one bedroom deluxe suite
Option 1: One Bedroom Deluxe - Room Only
Special conditions apply
Breakfast not included
King Bed only
Indoor swimming pool, spa, game room, breakfast area (pay for breakfast separately
Option 1: One Bedroom Deluxe - Room Only
This place is more so like an apartment building but also offers hotel like services. The rooms are bigger and there are more things to do like, tennis, swimming, getting a massage, playing video games, racket ball and many other activities and is also close to everything.
Distance to:
Bus: 100 m
City Center: 3.9 km
Train Station: Paddington Station- 2.4 km, Victoria Station- 2.7 km
Underground Station: High Street Kensington- 700 m, Gloucester Road- 100 m
Airport: London City Airport- 16.5 km, London Heathrow- 19.3 km
Pamukkale- Hot springs and white terraces come sloping down from the ancient of Hierapolis. The waters run down and form a pool where you can swim among ancient Roman columns. There is a legend that a young girl who was unmarried and ugly tried committing suicide by jumping off of the travertine. She landed in one of the pools and instead of dying, was transformed into a beautiful woman, and caught the attention of the lord of Denizli. Many believe that the mineral waters of Pamukkale have healing powers and can cure many diseases and conditions. It is best to visit in the autumn and spring months when it is warm, but not too hot. It is located in the south central part of the Aegean region of Turkey, very close to Denizli city.
Cappadocia- It is a beautiful open-air museum that has around 1,000 ancient chapels and houses carved into the sides of rock. You can see strange rock formations, valleys, and volcanoes. There is also an opportunity for you to take a once in a lifetime hot air balloon tour where you can view the ancient city from a bird’s-eye view. Walking/Hiking tours are also available.
Ephesus- Ephesus is the best preserved city in Turkey. It is famous among Christians for being the final resting place of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Other things to see in Ephesus are the Celsus library, amphitheatre, marble streets, temples, and baths. It also contains the temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. You can take a full day (7 hour) tour of the city that includes a driver and an English-speaking guide. Private tour prices are $100/per person (2 people), $85/per person (3 people), $80/per person (4 people), and $70/per person (5+ people).
Istanbul Music Festival(Uluslararasi Istanbul Mŭzik Festivali) - This annual music festival is held every June and July in Istanbul. There are over 600 artists that perform at the festival from Turkey and all over the world. It is one of the biggest music festivals in Turkey with over 20,000 people attending. Some performers in the past have been composer Arvo Pärt, pianist Lang Lang, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Dates for the 2012 festival are not yet confirmed.
The Grand Bazaar- Located in Istanbul, The Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s largest shopping markets.It runs through 60 streets and it has 5,000 shops. You can shop for things like jewelry, Turkish hand-painted ceramics, carpets embroideries, spices and antiques. It is a great place to go if you love to shop and want to see some of Turkey’s culture. The Bazaar is open Mondays-Saturdays from 9:00am to 7:00pm. To get there; take a tram to Beyazit, Üniversite, or Sirkeci. It is about a 15 minute walk from the Aya Sofya/Blue Mosque area.
Turkey
*Information for a roundtrip to Turkey from a departure city in the United States*Los Angles (LAX) - Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul)
New York City (JFK) - Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul)
Chicago (O’Hare) - Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul)
Climate/Weather of Turkey
Turkey’s climate is different throughout the seasons. It is best to go in the spring because the weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. April can be quite rainy compared to the other months of summer. Although it has the best weather, this time of the year prices are at their highest and many hotels are fully booked. The second best time to visit turkey is in autumn. The days are shorter and rain can begin in October. Many of the boutique hotels are heavily booked at their highest prices. The third time that would be best to visit would be summer. It is quite hot and usually rainless. Seaside resorts are usually crowded and prices are at their peak. There are smaller crowds and shorter lines for admission to sights. Winter is the worst time to visit out of all the seasons. It can be cold and rainy, but once in a while there are sunny days. There are lower prices and fewer tourists.
Foods In Turkey
In Turkey, people eat a variety of different foods. For breakfast they tend to eat a western style foods. Also with breakfast, people like to drink hot tea, or as an alternative, they also drink warm/hot milk sweetened with honey, One of the more favored food for breakfast is the Rustic Style Bread. Things this bread is made of include: flour, and warm water for the sourdough starter, and for the dough, people tend dto add sugar, warm water, yeast, flour and salt. The bread is served with a variety of different things depending on what you want and what is available. If you ever get tired of the same thing for breakfast, go down to a pastry shop and see if you can find something there. Turkey is filled with little shops.
There are also a variety of different things people eat for lunch and dinner. Most people like to eat around the middle of the day and eat the same types of food for lunch and dinner just like in the United States.Some people in turkey eat a large meal at lunch and a smaller meal at dinner, but then there are others who eat a smaller meal at lunch and save the “big meal” for dinner. People in turkey love salads. They are served with almost every dish in a restaurant. There are many dips and appetizers that are also served in turkey just like in America. If you go to the coast of turkey, you will tend to eat more seafood because it is very plentiful and is a favorite amongst the people on the coasts. All over turkey one of the favorite dishes for lunch or dinner is the kebab. People add many different things their kebabs like, chicken, lamb, and beef and many fruits or vegetables.
Ingredients for Chicken Kebab include: Cumin, plain yogurt, red pepper powder, cayenne pepper, garlic clove with smashed salt, pomegranate paste, olive oil, boneless chicken breast, 2 large tomatoes, cubanelle peppers
Lodging
Hotel Amira Istanbul: Telephone number: 1-866-599-6674
In Sultanahmet neighborhood, luxury hotel near Hippodrome
In historical district.
This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Istanbul, walking distance from Little Hagia Sophia Bath, Hippodrome, and Blue Mosque. Also nearby are Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia.
2 restaurants, a bar/lounge
*Children and extra beds
Free! All children under 6 years stay free of charge when using existing beds.
Free! All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots.
All older children or adults are charged EUR 40 per night per person for extra beds.
Maximum capacity of extra beds/babycots in a room is 1.
Accepted credit cards
American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.
$105 for one night
Fraser Place Hotel/ Apartments:
Price: $158 dollars per room for one bedroom deluxe suiteOption 1: One Bedroom Deluxe - Room Only
Special conditions apply
Breakfast not included
King Bed only
Indoor swimming pool, spa, game room, breakfast area (pay for breakfast separately
Option 1: One Bedroom Deluxe - Room Only
This place is more so like an apartment building but also offers hotel like services. The rooms are bigger and there are more things to do like, tennis, swimming, getting a massage, playing video games, racket ball and many other activities and is also close to everything.
Distance to:
Bus: 100 m
City Center: 3.9 km
Train Station: Paddington Station- 2.4 km, Victoria Station- 2.7 km
Underground Station: High Street Kensington- 700 m, Gloucester Road- 100 m
Airport: London City Airport- 16.5 km, London Heathrow- 19.3 km
Tel: +90 212 232 0203
Fax: +90 212 232 0233
Email: reservations.istanbul@frasershospitality.com
Attractions
Cappadocia- It is a beautiful open-air museum that has around 1,000 ancient chapels and houses carved into the sides of rock. You can see strange rock formations, valleys, and volcanoes. There is also an opportunity for you to take a once in a lifetime hot air balloon tour where you can view the ancient city from a bird’s-eye view. Walking/Hiking tours are also available.
Ephesus- Ephesus is the best preserved city in Turkey. It is famous among Christians for being the final resting place of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Other things to see in Ephesus are the Celsus library, amphitheatre, marble streets, temples, and baths. It also contains the temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. You can take a full day (7 hour) tour of the city that includes a driver and an English-speaking guide. Private tour prices are $100/per person (2 people), $85/per person (3 people), $80/per person (4 people), and $70/per person (5+ people).
Istanbul Music Festival (Uluslararasi Istanbul Mŭzik Festivali) - This annual music festival is held every June and July in Istanbul. There are over 600 artists that perform at the festival from Turkey and all over the world. It is one of the biggest music festivals in Turkey with over 20,000 people attending. Some performers in the past have been composer Arvo Pärt, pianist Lang Lang, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Dates for the 2012 festival are not yet confirmed.
The Grand Bazaar- Located in Istanbul, The Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s largest shopping markets.It runs through 60 streets and it has 5,000 shops. You can shop for things like jewelry, Turkish hand-painted ceramics, carpets embroideries, spices and antiques. It is a great place to go if you love to shop and want to see some of Turkey’s culture. The Bazaar is open Mondays-Saturdays from 9:00am to 7:00pm. To get there; take a tram to Beyazit, Üniversite, or Sirkeci. It is about a 15 minute walk from the Aya Sofya/Blue Mosque area.
Currency
Sources
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293974-d2101386-Reviews-Fraser_Place_Anthill_Istanbul-Istanbul.htmhttp://www.letmego.com
http://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Hotels-Hotel-Amira-Istanbul.h3546734.Hotel-Information?icmcid=TRIPA.Expedia_US-I_B15.10995.B&icmdtl=1-120306ZMOFlcjR60fnz5P5TjipZgAAY.3546734.LcPhLxg.B.TP.1674691.IE.1209.293974.en_US..&hashTag=picturesAndTours&eapid=21187-1&rm1=a2&
http://www.dasterkhawan.com/turkish-chicken-shish-kebab/recipes7.html
http://www.laalmanac.com/transport/tr52.htm
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/WhenToGo/index.html
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/europe/turkey/currency/index.htm
http://www.usairways.com/default.aspx?c=GOGPPC&gclid=CMHNk4__0q4CFULrKgod9mlG-g&redir=http://hk.119156.airlines.com/
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=TRY
http://www.cappadociahotairballoontours.com/index.htm
http://www.pamukkale.net/
http://www.ephesustours.com/kusadasi-ephesus-tours/highlights-of-ephesus-tour
http://joobili.com/istanbul_music_festival_istanbul_14552/